Knife changing device



Feb. 6, 1951 F. w. sEYBoLD KNIFE: CHANGING DEVICE Filed June 7, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

FEEDER/cf( w. SEYBOLD @2a/MMM ATTOR NE YS,

Patented Feb. 6, 1951 KNIFE CHANGING DEVICE Frederick W. Seybold, Westfield, N. J., assignor to E. P. Lawson Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., 'a corporation of New York Application June 7, 1947, Serial No. 753,397 (C1. iin- 58) Claims.

.-My present invention relates to cutting knives of the guillotine type, and more particularly to means for readily removing and replacing a knife blade on the knife bar when the same becomes worn or dull or requires a change for any reason.

In guillotine type knife cutters of the type described in my application Serial No. 673 289 filed May 31, 1946, one type of knife is illustrated to which my invention is applicable.

1 Such cutting devices consist primarily of a knife bar which is reciprocated vertically and also has a lateral component motion in order to cut readily through a paper stack. The knife bar carries a replaceable blade in order to provide an appropriateA cutting edge at its lower extremity. Behind the knife bar and blade is located -a clamping member which is brought down on to the paper stack just before the knife blade engages the paper stack and begins to go through it.

Inguillotine type cutters of this kind, the paper clamp is independently movable to and from the stack of paper to be cut in order to assist the operator in determining the exact point of registry of the cut which is to be made with respect to the paper or to manually clamp uneven piles of pamphlets or other stitched or bound work. My invention makes use of this independent movement of the clamping element in order to facilitate removal and replacement of the knife blade on the knife bar.

The knife blade has a long sharp heavy steel cuttingedge secured by many bolts to a recess communicating with the undersurface of the knife bar.l Owing to the fact that the knife bar travels between the frame element on the cutting device, the blade is not readily accessible except at its very edge for removal and replacement. Hence removal and replacement has always been a dinicult task since it was necessary somehow to support the blade manually while the bolts were being removed and many accidents were likely to occur and actually did occur during removal and replacement.

It is extremely diilicult also for more than one clamp member so arranged that the knife blade may be temporarilyv attached to the clamping member before the knife blade is completely removed or unbolted from the knife bar. After the knife blade is'unbolted from the knife bar and is thus carried by the clamping member, the clamping member may be brought down slowly independently of the knife bar and the knife blade may then readily be removed by simply pulling the same out toward the front of the machine. A

Additional handling" members may be arranged to be removably secured to the knife blade in order to facilitate' removal and replacement thereof.

The foregoing and .many other objects of my invention will4 becomev apparent in the following description and drawings in'which:

Figure 1 is' a view "in perspective, partiall broken away, illustrating'my novel knife bladeA removal facilitating elements. 1

Figure 2 is a rear view of the knife bar and clamp assembly further illustrating my novel knife blade removal elements. t

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

person to cooperate in the replacement operation motion thereto are well known.

' Figure 4 is a viewr in perspective ofl a remov# able handle adapted to facilitate the removal andreplacement of the knife blade, together with the screw which interenga'ges the blade and clamp. f

Referring now to Figures '1 to 3, the knifebar I0 is reciprocal vertically between the frame members II and I2 of the cutting device towardj and away from the cutting table I3 on which' the paper stack may be mounted. The actual means for operating the knife bar need not here be shown since it is fully illustrated in'my application above referred to, and various other means:v for reciprocating 'the knife bar I0 'and at tlie same time imparting the lateral component ofl Below the'rear face of the knife bar II) is provided a recess I5 in which is mounted the knife blade I6, said knife blade I6 having a cutting edge I'I projecting below the lowest end of the knife bar I0, as shown more specifically in Figure 3. The blade I6 is provided, as may be required, with one, two or three rows of tapped openings I8, ISL-and 20.* Y

vRow I8 is used when the knife blade I 6 is wide and relatively new to' secure the knife blade 'I6 to the knife bar I EJt Knife bar I I) is provided with a plurality ofcounterbored openings 2l spaced to register with the series of openings I8.`

I5 or 20. and to receive bolts 23,'the headsff which may be recessed in the counterbored openings and which engage one row of tapped openings in the knife blade I6 to secure the blade to the knife bar I0.

As the knife blade I6 is narrowed by continuous sharpening of the edge I1, the blade I6 is removed from the knife bar I-li and moved down so that the series of tapped openings I9 register with the counterbored opening 22 of the knife bar I and the knife blade is resecured in that position.

Again, as the blade I6 is further narrowed, the row of tapped openings -in the bladeI may be used to secure the knife blade t6 to the knife bar II). When the knife blade is lowered to bel supported by row of openings I9, a suitable strip of steel, known as a backing strip Vis inserted between the top of the blade and the knife v-bar casting. This strip is, of course, equal in width tothe vertical distance between centers of holes I8 'and i9. correspondingly wider strip is n-V serted .for this purpose when row 20 is used.

` the problem which arises with respect to the blade I6 is not merely the actual complete removal and replacement thereof, but also the shifting of the blade I6 'from the position where the row of tapped openings I8 are used for support to a position where the rowof tapped openings I9 is used, and later toa position where the row 20 is used. Y

In order to carry out my invention, the vclamp v which is mounted just behind the knife bar I0 is utilized in order to Asupport the knife blade free of the knife bar when required to shift the 4.knife blade with :respect'to the knife bar or to remove the knife blade `entirely from the knife ba-r and replace the same. The clamp 25 has mounted thereon two spaced vertical sleeves 326, 26 which may be spaced adjacent the ends of the clamp or which may each bespaoed substantially intermediate the center of the clamp and the end of the clamp lon Peach side.

The spacing of the vertical tubular members 2-6 apart need only be suflcient to provide an adequate two-point support for the knife blade I6Vwhen it is removed. Each tube 26 carries slidably mounted therein the sleeves -21. sleeve y'21 -is 2provided with a longitudinal groove clamp and is thus laterally shifted with respect thereto. Thus, the openings 22 of the knife bar may occupy any of a plurality of vertical and lateral positions with respect to openings 31; the enlargement of openings 31 allows for this difference within the range of shift caused by successive 'sharper-rings of the blade.

Each of the sleeves 21 may be moved vertically in the tube 25 by the screw 40 which passes through the tapped opening 4I in the top of sleeve 21; The upper end of the screw 40 is rotatably mounted in bearing 42 and is provided with the handle d'3 which in turn carries a slidable fcran'k pin -44 in the opening 45. The lower end 'of pin M may engage in one or more notches 48 in the top vof tube 26 to prevent turning of handlex 43 and screw 40.

`- mitted to drop and is pushed into notch 4H to prevent further accidental or undesired Arotation of screw 4B or movement of sleeve 21. 4 When vnow it is desiredto remove and replace the blade I6 or to shift the blade I6V from fone Each 28 engaged Aby the dog point y'29 of the set screw c 30 passing through the tapped opening -3I in lug 32 Aof the tube 26 to prevent rotation of sleeve 21 while nevertheless permitting longitudinal movement thereof. A

The lower end ofgeach sleeve 2-'I facing'the clamp 25 yand knife bar I0 vis lprovided with an opening 35 which lmay be rectangular, the bottom of the opening being' defined by the ledge 36. 1

` In order to facilitate the operation or mynovel device., the openings '31 and 35 are made much larger than the coun-terbored openings 2-2.; this will -make it 'easier for the operator to interengage the -fknife blade with the clamp as hereinbelow described. This is 'especially necessary because, as the knife width becomes less, the knife bar is correspondingly lowered relative to .the

row of tapped openings I3 to another row of tapped openings I9 or 20, the knife bar IIJ and the cla-mp 25 are brought to `a speci-o desired elevated position, which position brings the lower end of the knife bar IU to a vertical distance above the work table i3 which is greater 'than the full vertical height of the knife blade I6 so that the knife blade may be removed from the front. All of the bolts 23 are then removed from the yfront with the exception of two bolts fso that the knife blade I6 is now secured to the knife bar Il) by just these two bolts. It is important and necessary that among the bolts that are' removed there Ashould be included the two bolts which pass through thecounterbored opening 22 just opposite clamping opening 31, j These openings may be 'appropriately indicated or marked 'on the completed device. The crankv pin 44fan'd handle i3 are then rotated to vbring the sle'evef21 down to its lowest 'position where the square opening 35 in each sleeve t21 will register with the square opening `31 rin the 'clamp 25. v

'The special screws A5I! are 'then inserted in the two bolt holes 22 which register with the square. openings 31 and 35. These screws 50 have a threaded head 5I with a driving socket or slot 52 so that these screws may be inserted to be flush with the front surface of the blade I6 O1- eveil recessed slightly beyond the surface. lThe screws E'also have long cylindrical EX-l', tensions 55 which pass through the opening'slll: and 35 in the'clamp and sleeve and 'thus enter the sleeve 21 on each side.

The crank. pin 44- and handle 43 are then rotated back Vto raise the sleeve `21 until the. ledge 36 lightly contacts the cylindrical catenev sion r55 of the screw 50. When this has been done, the weight 4of. thefknife blade will then rest on ledges 36 of .sleeves 21 which in turnv are.

carried by the clamp 25. At this time the remainf ing two screws which have secured the knifeblade I6 to the knife bar I0 are removed and the knife blade `is now fully supported by -ledgeswlBI of sleeves 21.

lThe operator may now operate'the clamp-'25;

toits lowest position 'independently of the knife bar III and when this has been done, the clamp will simultaneously bring down the knife blade I6 with it while the knife bar I0 remains up. The clamp is lowered until the upper end of the knife blade I6 has cleared'the lowest end of the knife bar l0. The operator will then insert handles 6U having the threaded ends 6I into any two of the bolt holes I8, I9 or 2l] in the most convenient position for further handling and then using the handles 60 may then remove-the knife blade I6 from the cutting machine.

He may then place the handles 60 into another knife blade and the new'knife blade may be placed by him in the device. The knife blade I6 must be continuously removed and replaced for sharpening, and therefore the added convenience and safety of my invention willbecome obvious.

Heretofcre, it has been necessary for the opeator to use heavy gloves or other protective means to avoid injury to his hands and to find some way of supporting the knife blade just before unscrewing the last bolt so that the knife blade will not fall and cause injury. Likewise, replacing the knife blade has been a severeproblem since-again the operator found it extremely difficult to support the knife blade manually while replacing the same. When the knife blade I6 is replaced, any of the sets of tapped open ings I 8, I9, or 20 may be positioned in registry with the counterbored openings 22 of the knife bar I as determined by the width of the blade after sharpening.

The n ew or resharpened knife blade with the handles 60 inserted therein and with the special supporting screws 55 inserted in the proper pair of openings of row I8, I9 or 20 is placed on the cutting machine while the clamp is lowered so that the cylindrical body 55 of the special screws 50 enter the registering openings 31 and 35 on each side.

The knife blade I 6 is thensupported by ledges 36 of the sleeves 21 on each side. Handles 60 are removed and then the clamp 25 is slowly raised until the blade I6 moves up into recess I of knife bar I0 and the desired row of open'- ings I8, I9 or 2U moves opposite the counterbored openings22 of the knife bar Ill.

Bolts x23 are then passed through the counterbored openings 22 of knife bar I0 into the knife blade. Ihe screws '50 are removed and replaced by securing bolts 23. The clamp 25 is now completely disengaged from the knife blade I6.

Appropriate indicators may be placed on the clamp casting 25 of the machine cooperating either with the top edge of the knife casting I0 or anyQf-'other suitable indicating/ij;n mark on the knife casting I0 to indicate the point at which the knife casting bolt holes register with the square openings in the clamp casting.

Thus,` the only indicating marks required are marks which may take any form indicating which particular bolt holes 22 are aligned with the openings in the casting 25, and an additional mark rindicating the position ofthe clamp with respect4 to the knife bar at whichthe opening 31 in thef` knife bar registers withjthe particular counterborsd openings 22 above', described.

An additional indication maybe provided., although this is not necessary, of the position where opening 35 registers with opening 31. This position may be, however, located at the lowest point of travel of sleeve 21 so that it is then necessarybnly to rotate handle A'43%{unti1 sleeve 21 cannot move any' lower to determine that op'en ing 35 registers exactly'with opening 31.

For convenience in storage, the handle Slis tubular and tapped adjacent its outer end. The special screw 50 as seen'in Figure 4 maythen be screwed into the handle 60. When in use, screw 5|) is, of course,'removedv from handle 60.

'In the foregoing,'1 thus provide a simplified convenient' method which utilizes existing elements of the machine'to facilitate removal and replacement of the knife' blade. Since many variations and modifications will now be obviousA to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be bound not by the specic 'disclosures herein contained?l but only by the appended claims. `Iclaim: A' v f l. In a cutting machine having a vertically reciprocable knife bar,l a vertically reciprocable clamp behind the knife bar'and a knife blade removably secured to the lower end of the knife bar at the rear face thereof; said blade being secured tc the knife bar by a plurality of bolts passing through registering openings in the blade and knife bar; means for facilitating the removal and replacement of said knife blade on said knife bar, said means comprising a plurality of openings in said clamp registering With certain of said blade and knife bar openings, adjustable members carried by said clamp and registerable with the openings in said clamp; means entering said openings in said blade with which the clamp openings register and connectable with said adjustable members for interengaging said blade with said clamp; said blade being thereby f transferred to the front face of said clamp.

2. In a cutting machine having a vertically reciprocable knife bar, a vertically reciprocable clamp behind the knife bar and a knife blade removably secured to the lower end of the knife bar at the rear face thereof; said blade being secured to the knife bar by a plurality of bolts passing through registering openings in the blade and knife bar; means for facilitating the removal and replacement of said knife blade on said knife bar, said means comprising a plurality of openings in said clamp registering with certain of said blade and knife bar openings, adjustable members carried by said clamp and registerable with the openings in said clamp; means entering said openings in said blade with which the clamp openings register and connectable with said adjustable members for interengaging said blade with said clamp; said blade being thereby transferred to the front face of said clamp while said knife bar and said clamp are in an elevated position, said clamp vbeing thereafter movable downwardly independently of said knife bar to bring said blade below;` said knife bar, said knife blade being thereafterlremovable from said clamp.

3. In a cutting machine having a vertically reciprocable knife bar, a vertically reciprocable clamp behind the knife bar and a knife blade removably secured to the low;r end of the knife bar at the rear face thereof; said blade being secured to the knife bar by a plurality of bolts passing through registering openings in the blade and knife bar; means for facilitating the removal and replacement of said knife blade on said knife bar, said means comprising a plurality of openingsin said clamp registering with certain of said blade and knife bar openings, adjustable members carried by said clamp and registerable with the openings in said clamp; means entering said openings in said blade with which the clamp openings register and connectable with sal-id, adjustabi member fr'interengaging saidblade with vsaid clarnp; said blade being thereby 'tafeied to 'the front face-oi said-clamp while a-i'd knife bai` and said clampl are in anv elevated iis'itior'i, said clam being thereafter movable WrNVai-dly indeiindtly of Said knife bar t0 bring said blade belovv said knife bar,A said knife -b'lad' being the'reaiterremovable from said clamp and handle members sec'u'rable to said blade te facilitate handling thereof; I.

I n`V a cutting machine having av vertically lprbcable 'knifev bar, a vertically reciprocable l'amp behind the' knife bar and a kif blade ree' revably lsecured tofth'e lower e'nd of the knife bar at the rear fac'e'thei'ef; vmeans on said clamp:` for supporting said knife blade; said means coiniiising an opening in said-"clamp.'an adjustable member,- said adjustable member comprisingvv a vertically movable element having a ledge for` supporti-ng said connecting member.l v

FREDERICK W. SEYBO REFRENc'Es ciTED The following references are of record in nie file f this patent: y g I' 'UNITED STATES PATENTS' Date 

